TI-Philippines President Rosalinda Tirona: Philippines has to take more action PHOTO FROM UNEPTIE.ORG

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is still perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, getting a score of 34 on a scale of 1 to 100 with 100 being very clean, according to the latest Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International.

But the Philippines has at least outranked its neighbors Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh, which all fared better than the country in the previous CPI, said TI, a civil society organization that promotes transparency and accountability.

Indonesia scored 32, Vietnam 31 and Bangladesh 26.

The top five countries perceived to be very clean were Denmark, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden and Singapore, while the five viewed as very corrupt were Somalia, North Korea, Afghanistan, Sudan and Myanmar.

TI-Philippines President Rosalinda Tirona said the 2012 CPI, which covered data gathered between December 2010 and September 2012, showed that the Philippines has to take more action to improve how things are done in the country.

One of these actions is the “immediate” passage of the freedom of information bill (FOI), Tirona said.

“This means we still have to do a lot more. TI-Philippines is here to show the Filipino people we can do many more things to fight corruption,” Tirona said in a briefing Wednesday.

“We must go beyond this ranking and think of what we can do,” she added.

Ranking 105th in the latest CPI, the Philippines belonged to two-thirds of the 176 countries with scores below 50, according to TI.

But TI-Philippines said the results of the 2012 CPI could not be compared with the results of the previous CPI because the latest index used a new methodology that changed the scoring system.

In the previous CPI, countries were scored 1 to 10, but in the latest survey, the scores ranged from 1 to 100. This has an effect on the ranking, TI-Philippines noted.

The new methodology also used a new formula that would allow for a more accurate comparison of the changes in the countries’ scores from year to year, but this would only begin with the 2012 CPI.

“Therefore, 2012 CPI cannot be compared with all the previous CPI including that of 2011,” TI-Philippines said.

In 2011, the Philippines was No. 129 on the list, which ranked 178 countries. In 2010, it was No. 134.

TI-Philippines founder Dolores Español said there were certain actions of the Aquino administration that helped change public perception in the country.

These were the impeachment trial, the declaration of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, the transparent process of replacing dismissed Chief Justice Renato Corona, the first year of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, and the general openness of the administration in its quest for a transparent government, Español said.

“However, there is still much to be done for it not to remain purely in the change of perception but in societal transformation that is truly tangible,” she said in a statement.

In pushing for the FOI passage, TI-Philippines said the measure had been described in the Philippine Development Plan as the “cornerstone of transparent and accountable governance.”

The FOI has faced delays in Congress, however. In the House of Representatives, it has yet to be subjected to plenary debates because it still has to go through another round of approval at the committee level. But the House has only six remaining session days this year.

TI-Philippines said other actions that could be done include the speedy resolution of corruption cases, especially those involving the big fish; the enactment of a whistle-blower protection law and a law on campaign finance reform to regulate campaign contributions; and the adoption of a comprehensive anti-corruption program.

TI chairperson Huguette Labelle said in a statement that based on the 2012 CPI, corruption still continues to ravage many societies.

“Governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all public decision-making. Priorities include better rules on lobbying and political financing, making public spending and contracting more transparent, and making public bodies more accountable to people,” Labelle said.

TI Managing Director Cobus de Swardt said in the same statement that the leading economies must lead by example and that they should see to it that their institutions are fully transparent and their leaders held accountable, De Swardt said.

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From Transparency International, I suppose.
Peruse their website, so you’ll stop laughing.

kilawin

IM SO PROUD TO BE FILIPINO!

http://twitter.com/TheChristianKaw Christian Kaw

Troll.

4kingdaddy

manhid ang mga kaluluwa ng mga pulitiko natin…..nothing will come out of this….remember, corruption had been with us way, way back, and no matter what this existing government’s effort does, the politicians will listen with one ear and out the other…why do you think dynastyism exists here…..it’s power and money, is why…..

GilArellano

stop blaming the previous presidents,i know they are corrupt and i know that P-noy is not but it’s not enough,he is the president,he could do it with all his powers but because of utang na loob he doesn’t have the gall to.for those who are pro admin.i know the comments hurt,why don’t you lead and tetll the president to do more and everyone will follow …probably the president will heed you…tuwid na daan bakit napakailap mo?

http://www.facebook.com/darwin.cana.7 Darwin Cana

Corruption cannot be stymied by simplistic and often radical suggestions of removal of certain political figures. It is an inherent and genuine manifestation of the people with all its cultural nuances and traditions associated with the society as a whole. The country still has a long way from achieving the discipline of the Nordic countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland (low corruption- see Montesquieuan principles on hot-cold).

The general political climate of a multiple representation of first past the post system does not comply with Durverger’s law of only 2 dominant parties (such as the model of the United States) because of loose party loyalty where Philippine politics center more on individual candidates instead of strict party loyalty (Great Britain). Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Nevertheless, there are some that can- with great difficulty- overcome the sweet ambrosia of corruption and put service before self. A national consensus must be made to deal on solving numerous social justices prevalent in a 2nd world country with huge gaps of inequality. Either sacrifice something to gain another a hundredfold or let foreign influence dictate domestic phenomena. China on the horizon and with a cash strapped US, the Philippines is on its own. No economic prowess or military capability. Something must be done

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_L7PILUDK6IPFGJLJNCM2IROCRY Albin

Don’t blame corruption entirely on the national leadership. Blame also the people who voted for them. It is our political sysyem that keeps corruption within us. Change to parliamentary, so the PM cannot stay so long.

turbogirl9

keep talking done nothing we are all victims

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FM3LD5Z6OYGAK2ER6MJCBKDQR4 Antonio Leon

Nothing new. This is not news.

Jun Tuazon

Corruption is everywhere in the world, one just have to look for examples.The big difference in the Philippines is that politicians and bureaucrats in this country has no limits to their greed.At least in some Asian countries including China you pay only once and after that they leave you alone to conduct business without worrying about the next set of government officials be they national or local.In the Philippines every level of the government wants their shares & commission down to the barangay level.